512 results about "Inventory management system" patented technology

A method and system of dispensing items in a controlled manner from cabinets or similar enclosures, re-ordering the dispensed articles or items, and providing inventory and other information about the items and users in the system. The invention utilizes a distributed network and permits users to browse and search for any item across multiple enclosures from any location. The method and system can track inventory, generate administrative reports, and independently initiate orders based on aggregate inventory levels of multiple enclosures to gain the benefit of volume discounts, minimize deliveries, maximize availability of items, or generate individual orders based on specific enclosures to maintain just-in-time inventory levels. The method and system also track the removal and stocking of items through unique identification strings, so that individual access, use, and theft of items can be monitored.

The present invention relates to a system for tracking product on a shelf. In an embodiment, an indicia strip is placed on a self coiling sheet, and a sensor is configured to read the indicia strip. The data on the indicia strip corresponds to the location of a pusher assembly. In an embodiment, a store computer can use the data regarding the location of the pusher assembly to determine the amount of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, the store computer can automatically order additional inventory based on the levels of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, a deviation from normal customer purchasing habits can be used to prompt security measures so as to reduce the possibility of product theft.

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with certain aspects related to the present invention collect item information from RFID tags attached to items in an inventory, and uses the collected item information to perform various inventory management processes. In one aspect, the inventory management processes may include determining, reporting, and/or providing corrective actions for one or more events associated with at least one of depletions of items in the inventory, changes in the design of items in the inventory, defects with one or more items, misplaced items, the movement of an unusual umber of items within a short period of time (i.e., shrinkage), and malfunctions of one or more components included in the environment.

An inventory management system is described that includes two or more cameras mounted on a retail display space. The cameras are positioned to capture images showing the presence of items of interest in the retail display space. A hub is in communication with each of the cameras mounted on the retail display space and is operable to aggregate information from the cameras related to the items of interest in the retail display space, and to communicate data regarding the status of the item of interest to an inventory management system operable to receive the data from the hub.

An inventory management system utilizes unattended facilities remote from a central warehouse for service parts logistics. Items are placed in inventory in secure enclosures at the unattended facilities by the inventory management service. The unattended facilities may be located near one or more customers to reduce a service technician's travel time and customers' inventory costs. A service technician utilizes a passcode to retrieve needed items. The service technician may order items that are not kept in the inventory of the unattended facility in which case the items may be delivered to the unattended facility and the service technician may receive a notification related to all the items that comprise an order that the order is ready for pick up at an unattended facility. Unused, used or damaged parts may be returned by a technician to a remote secure enclosure where such returned parts may be retrieved and disposed of, repaired or placed back into inventory if not damaged or after repair, and the processing of such returned parts begins by information entered into a data entry device at the remote secure enclosure location. Return items that are not damaged may be included in the inventory of an unattended facility.

The present invention involves systems and methods of linking a unique identifier with a package identifier to provide confirmation of the delivery of the package to a certain location or individual. The unique identifier may be associated with a location or an individual. In one embodiment, it is a barcode and the package identifiers are barcodes as well. The barcodes are scanned by a service provider using a hand-held data acquisition and storage device thereby linking the unique identifier to the package identifiers. The information is transferred from the hand-held device to a database where it is used to compile reports for and provide information to the service provider, the shipper, and the recipient of the packages. The invention may be incorporated into an inventory management system such that when confirmation of actual delivery has been received, the recipient will release payment to its vendors.

A system and method are disclosed for controlling an inventory of a plurality of point-of-care diagnostic devices. The plurality of devices includes at least one type of device. Each device is configured to perform at least one sample analysis. Each device has a usable lifetime. The inventory includes a main inventory and at least one subinventory. The inventory control system comprises a data input interface for entering data associated with the devices and a data output interface for displaying data associated with the devices. A memory stores data associated with the devices and stores steps of a computer program to automatically update the current number of devices in the at least one subinventory in response to an occurrence of an event that causes a change in the current number of devices in the at least one subinventory. The inventory control system comprises a processor for accessing the memory to execute the computer program.

An order-handling inventory management system includes a database that is capable of containing information about the products. This information includes availability and location of the products when these products are stored in a warehouse. A radio frequency subsystem uses radio frequencies to detect identificators that are on the products stored in the storage site. An order-receiving-processing subsystem receives orders for products and ascertains from the database the availability and the location of the products in the storage site. A handheld RF scanner, which is part of the radio frequency subsystem, is used to detect the products within the storage site by detecting the identification of the products.

A portable dispensing system comprising a vending machine including an upper snack-holding portion, an intermediate beverage-holding portion, a lower refrigeration portion, contained within a housing that fits within the basket of a golf cart. The snack-holding portion and the beverage-holding portion occupy a common cabinet being separated by an insulating wall, allowing a refrigeration mechanism within the refrigeration portion to refrigerate the beverage-holding portion without refrigerating the snack-holding portion. The cabinet is disposed above the basket within the golf cart, and may be provided with a pair of belts for fastening the dispensing system to the golf cart. Within the snack-holding portion, snacks are held in a plurality of snack-holding bins, with similar snacks being stored in a single bin, separated from one another by sliding platforms. When a sliding platform is pulled away, the snack product resting atop the sliding platform is released to fall downward into a lowest position within the bin, to be retrieved by the user through a door. Within the beverage-holding portion, cans are stored in a plurality of columns to be retrieved through doors. An inventory management system is disclosed for controlling and monitoring the dispensing of refreshments and sundries. The inventory management system including a systems for electronically accepting payment, a system for monitoring inventory levels, and a system for wirelessly communicating with a remote terminal.

An advertisement inventory management system for internet advertising is provided. The system comprises an ad server including a delivery engine capable of delivering an advertisement to a web server for display in a webpage in response to a triggering event by an internet user. A configuration module may be provided in functional communication with the delivery engine. The configuration module may be adapted to schedule an advertisement for delivery by the delivery engine. The configuration module may also be capable of communicating the advertisement to the delivery engine according to the schedule. The advertisement management system may also include an inventory management system having a plurality of advertisement targeting parameters arranged in a tree structure. The inventory management system may be adapted to forecast capacity of possible advertisement impressions of the plurality of advertisement targeting parameters and to match the advertising target parameters at a branch of the tree structure with sold advertisement data to identify advertisement inventory for the branch of the tree structure. The inventory management system may also be in communication with the configuration module so as to identify an advertisement from the advertisement inventory for delivery to an internet user satisfying the advertisement targeting parameters. A sales system may also be provided which may query for available inventory. A method of use of the advertisement inventory management system is also disclosed.

A intelligent pallet having and active RFID tag embedded therein is provided. The pallet is used within a leasing system and/or an inventory management system.

An inventory management system for identifying and locating items in a facility includes a plurality of identification tags, each of which includes identification information regarding an item to which each respective identification tag is attached, a memory device including information regarding all of the items in the facility, including image information for each item, an input device operable to receive information from a user, including a request for a desired item, a plurality of readers positioned around the facility, wherein each reader is operable to transmit an inquiry signal that triggers one or more identification tag to emit a response signal, the response signal including the identification information regarding the item to which each tag is attached, wherein the response signal is received by at least one reader of the plurality of readers; and a controller connected to the plurality of readers and the input device, the controller being operable to control the readers to emit the inquiry signal and to provide location information indicating a location of the desired item requested by the user based on the response signal received by the reader; wherein the controller retrieves image information for the desired item from the memory device and wherein the location information and image information related to the desired item is displayed to the user of the system.

An inventory management system is provided that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to drive RFID tags to provide a notification signal, such as by illuminating light emitting diodes (LEDs) embodied by the RFID tags. The RFID tags may be placed on medication bins within a pharmacy pick-station in order to indicate which medication to select for processing an order or in which medication bin to place a particular medication being restocked. A method and computer program product for managing inventory, as well as an automated dispensing cabinet are further provided.

A stocking system including at least one support for goods to be stocked, a communications network, and a computing unit for deriving inventory data. The stocking system has a gravimetric sensor element that, for detecting the goods, is in the form of a sensor array or sensor matrix. This sensor element can also be supplemented with an optical sensor element. By recording a multitude of measured values of the goods, the entire stocking system can be in the form of a sensor network and, with regard to the model, is configured for deriving inventory data whereby enabling both an identification of the type of the stocked goods as well as the determination of the quantity thereof.

A software tool, message construction and peer-to-peer internet communication methodology by which otherwise independent retailers that sell the same product lines can cost-effectively equalize inventory, facilitating the movement of items from geographic markets in which the items are slow-moving to geographic markets in which the items are faster-moving.

Systems and methods related to a store intelligence system can include a plurality of end-point devices associated with a product shelf configured to display product, and a plurality of hubs each positioned adjacent to one or more of the plurality of end-point devices. One or more of the plurality of end-point devices can be configured to detect and transmit inventory information to a predetermined adjacent hub of the plurality of hubs or to receive and display price information or product information from a predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs. Each of the hubs can be configured to receive inventory information from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices, provide alerts, transmit inventory information to a network, receive price information and product information, and transmit the price information and product information to one or more of the plurality of end-point devices.

Systems and methods for tracking prescription drug inventory of a pharmacy at a switch. Embodiments of the invention include receiving, at a switch, a prescription claim transaction from a pharmacy system, where the prescription claim transaction indicates an amount of a drug, and transmitting the prescription claim transaction to a payer system for adjudication. An adjudicated response for the prescription claim is then received from the payer system, and an inventory amount associated with the drug maintained by the switch is updated by the switch. When a determination is made that the inventory amount has met a threshold value, a message is transmitting indicating that the inventory amount has met the threshold value. In some embodiments of the invention the message is sent to the pharmacy or directly to a supplier as part of an order for additional inventory of the drug.

Various embodiments of a method and apparatus whereby a single action may control fulfillment services are described. Various embodiments may include an inventory management system associated with a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may be configured to implement a fulfillment services management interface configured to generate a user interface providing an indication of item(s) listed for sale by a merchant. In various embodiments, order fulfillment services for such items may not be provided by a fulfillment services provider. Additionally, the user interface may provide a single action user interface element for the merchant to register the one or more items for fulfillment by a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may, in response to receiving an indication of activation of the single action user interface element, register the item(s) for fulfillment by the fulfillment services provider.